FOREIGN MISSIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19019, 15 November 1923, Page 2

FOREIGN MISSIONS.

PRESBYTERIAN COMMITTEE'S MEETING. There was a largo attendance at the ordinary monthly meeting of the Foreign Missions Committee of tuc Presbyterian Church on Tuesday. The convener, Rev. G 11. Jupp, presided. Letters of thanks for sympathy were received from Mr R. S. Allan and from Dr E. W. Kirk, whose rest furlough in Japan had proved beneficial in restoring him to health. It was agreed to congratulate (be president and Council of Sunday School Unions on the success of tho Children’s Exhibition, which had proved of special educational value from the missionary point of view. It was reported that the Rev. W. Mawson was at present engageu in deputation work in Southland, and that, arrangements were being made for visitation of Christchurch Presbytery. It was agreed to adopt the John G. Pa ton Mission study text, at present under preparation by tho, Victorian Foreign Missions Committee, for use in 1924. the J. G. Baton centenary year. The Clerk of the Melbourne Synod (Rev. P. J, Murdoch) wrote re work among the Cfiinese in Fiji, tie pointed out that the New Zealand Church accepts a share of responsibility for Fiji, and contributes £SO pe- annum towards the salary of Mr Johnson, the Presbyterian minister in Suva. The Chinese in Suva are understood do bo Cantonese, and as the Now Zealand Chinese Mission is in Canton, it was thought that the New Zealand Mission might know of a' man who would suit the position.—After careful consideration it was agreed to advise the Melbourne Synod that the conimuteo was unable to take any steps in the- meantime in the matter Regulations were agreed to with regard to the Foreign Missions library, which includes a. carefully-selected collection of over 600 volumes, exclusive of magazines, available for use by those interested in missions. Field allowances were authorised in respect of tho Canton Village Mission and the Indian Mission as follows;—Canton Villages Mission, £225 per month, or £2700 for the year (the same as last year); Indian Mission, £256 13_s 4d per month, or £3OBO for the year. This represented an increase of £4BO on the amount for last year, accounted h r mainly by the increasing cost of ©ducat ioa in the case of the Indian Christian boys and girls; the. additional allowance for the evangelistic work to 1 e undertaken hy the Rev. T. E, Riddle in Nahan. and tho opening, at the request of (he residents, of a school for non-Chris-tian girls at Abdulanur. —It was agreed to consult the mission councils in both fields a s to setting a limit upon the amount granted for field allowances. At the request of the Assembly's Youth of (he Church Committee it was agreed to veto £lO towards (he deficit on (he “Break of Day. ’ children’s paper. Accounts totalling £236 17s 3d were passed for payment. Contributions were acknowledged with thanks for the Canton sites and buildings fund, £27 8s 6d, and for other objects £47. _ CANTON VILLAGES MISSION. The C.V.M. Council secretary forwarded minutes of meeting held on September 8. The principal items were; —(1) Uic mission is renting a semi-foreign house in Kotong Market at a monthly rental of 17dol (Mex.) for the Rev. A. L. and Mrs Miller. This would enable Mr Miller to be nearer the school, of which he is head master. (2) In order to improve the water supply ot (he Kong-Chuen Compound, an additional windmill is necessary. (3) In regard to precautions against robbery, unfortunately so frequent in this district, especially in the case of property left hy missionaries on furtough, it had been agreed that missionaries going on furlough should leave with the treasurer of (he mission a list of their possessions left on the field, tho mission to house them as safely as possible. (4) The council approved of the plan to establisn the Union Language School (for missionaries) at. the Canton Christian College. Mr A. G. Wilson advised tho committee that he is willing, as requested, to return to China for 18 .months if necessary, in order to supervise the buildings still to be erected.—lt was agreed formally !to approve of the arrangement. Mr Wilson, who is at present in Australia, is to return to Canton immediately. INDIA. Sabathu. —At this centre, the mission provides a superintendent for the leper asylum, which is supported by the mission to lepers. The Indian Mission Council asked for formal sanction to a resolution informing the mission to lepers that our mission cannot be responsible for tho supervision of the leper asylum after September, 1924. It was pointed out that there were several difficulties iu connection with our continuing in this work, one of the principal being its isolation from the rest of our district.— It was agreed to sanction the cbuncil’c resolution, and to continue tho salary ot the acting superintendent for another rear 11925-24). It was agreed to sanction the proposal already approved by the Indian Council permitting the Indian Christian communi lies in our mission area to become part of the Presbyterian Church in India. Tho Ludhiana Presbytery had given permission to our missionaries to become members of the Presbyterian Church in India while retaining their present relations with the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Their status and privileges in tho Presbyterian Church in India would ho as laid down in the Book of Order of the latter church. The Secretary of the Council wrote advising the committee that, though the council had not yet formally discussed the matter, the members unanimously approved the programme ot advance in the Sirmiu States as proposed by Rev. T. E. Riddle. NEW HEBRIDES. The Rev. O. Michelscn(Tongoa) reported that there had been a big epidemic ot influenza on Tongoa. The amount spent on repairing buildings destroyed by the hurricane of February, 1922, would be, rougmy, £6OO. There was considerable destitution among the natives. The new principal church in Tongoa would be the largest in the group. It was cruciform in design. The Rev. W, V. Miln» (Nguna) reported that there had been serious trouble at Santo in connection with tho murder of an inoffensive trader, Mr Clapcott, at the instigation of a native “prophet.” Sixteen men were arrested and tried by the Joint Court. Six weie sentenced to death for murder, including tho “prophet.'’ Six received sentences of from five to 10 years' penal servitude for larceny. Four wore acquitted. The Joint Court can only pass sentence; it is left to the British and French Resident. Commissioners to carry out the sentence,. There has been great difference of opinion in Vila as io whether tlie death sentence should he carried out, and there have been petitions and counterpetitions to the Government. Mr J. W. Mansfield (Paama) reported that he hod visited North Ambrim. where he baptised 61 adults and 32 infants. At Ranan the new church was found far too small. Tho people Itave taken in hand to enlarge it before his next visit.